Central West End

The Central West end is a neighborhood located on the west side of the city bordering U City in St. Louis County. The housing stock in the neighborhood dates from the 1900’s to the 1920’s and consists mostly of large single family homes. There are also many small multifamily building as well as apartment buildings, and some highrise condo towers in the heart of neighborhood on Lindell. Prices for real estate start near $100,000 for condos. While single families will start in the mid 200’s and range up to well over $1,000,000 for both condos and single family homes.

The neighborhood began as a wealthy enclave for people who were looking to escape from the city that was encroaching on their residences further east. Downtown and Midtown were becoming more and more commercial and industrial at the turn of the 20th century and zoning codes aren’t what they are today. As a result the Downtown area was becoming noisy and polluted. Even wealthy private streets such as Lucas Place and Vandeventer Place were affected and many moved to the west side of the city where life was more quiet.

Today The Central West End is the most cosmopolitan neighborhood within the city limits. The population density, diversity, and mix of commercial and residential rival great neighborhoods in much bigger cities. Lindell Blvd. is a major thoroughfare through St. Louis and is home to many businesses, banks, condos and offices, and apartment buildings. Euclid, which bisects the neighborhood from north to south, represents the best walkability of any city neighborhood. On Euclid you can find every imaginable shop and restaurant. The Central West End is known as a destination neighborhood because of the restaurants and nightlife centered on and around Euclid. Many people commute daily to the neighborhood. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is one of the main employers in the neighborhood. There is also a multitude of commercial and office space that make the neighborhood a bustling place on a day to day basis.

The Central West End is also a popular neighborhood for local students because of its proximity to local campuses, Washington University’s Med Campus is in the neighborhood itself. St. Louis University’s Main Campus is about 1.5 miles from the heart of the neighborhood and Washington University’s Main Campus sits just across Forest Park. Students and faculty from all of these institutions call the Central West End home.

The Central West End is flanked on the west by Forest Park, one of the greatest urban parks in the United States. Forest Park is home to the St. Louis Zoo, The Muny, Steinberg Skating Rink, The Missouri History Museum, miles of running and biking trails, and countless athletic fields. Forest Park is constantly breathing life into the neighborhood because of the thousands of visitors on a daily basis for the attractions, special events, athletic competitions.

Another of the neighorhood’s greatest assets is The Chase Park Plaza. “The Chase” as it is commonly known has a great history. It was conceived as a hotel and apartment complex in the early 1930’s and has continually evolved to the present day. Today it is a mixed use complex featuring a luxury hotel, luxury condos, meeting space, restaurants and nightlife, a 5 screen movie theater, and other hotel amenities. Located adjacent from Forest Park and around the corner from Euclid this among the most walkable locations in the city.